Chapter Six

Shawn

The wedding goes off without a hitch.

It's not an overly long or lavish affair, but there are plenty of family and friends on hand to watch the happy couple exchange their vows.

With the gulf waves washing onto the sandy shore and the seagulls flying about, it was a beautiful ceremony. Of course, what made it that way—far more than the natural surroundings—was the love between Braydon and Chloe. They're a match made in heaven. I couldn't be happier for them.

But I must admit, their connection makes me think, taking stock of my own life.

Will I ever find my bride?

I've been married before, obviously, and it didn't work out. There are a number of reasons why, but the bottom line is we were young, married fast, and didn't have time to think things through. We just hit the ground running, had kids, and then I went to med school. You want to talk about tough, try being a med student, husband, and a father.

I'm not making excuses. Just saying…

That's probably when we started growing apart, though we held on for many, many years after that. But we were different people by then. She's happily remarried now, and I wish them all the best.

As for me, I'm still looking.

I know one thing: it can't be that little girl that spent the night in my suite last night. No matter how badly I want it to be.

The reception is fun but quick, being at an odd time in the day, so we're done by about one o'clock in the afternoon.

Everyone starts to scatter.

Chloe's parents are taking off from here for a trip to New Orleans.

Of course, Braydon and Chloe are bound for a honeymoon, going to Cancun.

I watched Willow say goodbye to her family before heading away in an Uber toward the airport. As for me, I'm driving back to Norman. It's only a little over seven hours away. I'd love to explore Texas or maybe go somewhere else, but I have surgeries to perform in a couple of days. A vacation will just have to wait. I'll stop, though, adding some time to my drive. I'm not in a hurry. I want to see some of the small towns between here and there. Maybe even get some of that good Texas BBQ. There's a giant casino on the state line, barely in Oklahoma, and I might stop by there and play a game or two and enjoy a drink. Might even decide to stay the night. As long as I'm back for my surgeries, I'm all good.

I suppose that's one of the benefits of not being tied down. There's no one at home waiting for me to return.

Of course, there's a flip side to that. I'm making the trek home alone. The passenger seat in my truck is empty. There's no one to talk to. No one to laugh with. No one to process the memories of this amazing wedding with.

No one to hold tightly at night.

No Little to take care of and cherish.

I probably don't have to tell you this, but as I think of all that, it's Willow I'm seeing flicker across my mind in brief glimpses.

I want to hold her. I want to teach her all those things she's dying to know. I want to be the Daddy she dreams of.

Because she's the Little I dream of.

I need to stop it, though. I can't be consumed with her.

I put the beach—and Willow—behind me and point my truck north. Now, I know what you might be thinking: a rich surgeon has a pickup truck?

Sure do.

It's brand new and nice. Fully loaded. But it's not a sleek little sports car. Remember, I'm a surgeon in Oklahoma. There are sleek little sports cars around, but few and far between. Besides, they aren't really my style.

This pickup suits me.

Sometimes it's nice getting my hands dirty with something other than blood. So, when I'm not performing surgeries, I like to get away and do a bit of camping. The truck is perfect to throw my gear in the back and head off to the mountains. Plus, it gives me plenty of room.

I stop at a gas station, grab a cup of coffee, and spend a few minutes studying my phone, mapping out my route. Looks like there's a good BBQ place between here and Dallas. At least the reviews say it's good.

I go a few miles up the road when I see a car on the shoulder, it's hazards flashing.

I also see her.

There's no question I'm pulling over. I know I should be forgetting all about Willow, but I won't leave her stranded on the side of the road. Even if I wasn't insanely attracted to her and didn't want to be her Daddy, I'd still help. She's kind of family now.

Shit. Does that make me sound creepy? That's the last thing I want to be.

You know what I mean, though. This kid and me, well…we're connected now. She might need some help. Me stopping to check has nothing to do with the fact she makes my cock rock hard, and I want to fuck her little brains out. Or be her Daddy.

I flip the truck's hazard lights on, too, and ease up behind the stalled silver Toyota. It's a small car and looks like a newer model, but evidently, it's having some sort of trouble.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

Willow is off the shoulder, standing in a grassy area, looking down at her phone. She's with another man—who I presume to be the Uber driver—who is simply standing by with his hands in his pockets, looking embarrassed.

My voice registers with Willow. She looks up and gulps but recovers quickly.

"Hey," she says.

I nod another greeting. "You okay?"

The driver winces. He's a Hispanic fellow about 60—short, kind of bald, and wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. "My car stalled," he says in a thick accent. "I do not know why. It is a new car."

"Sorry to hear it," I say.

He shrugs. "It's under warranty. It will not cost me anything. But the lady is late for her flight."

I look at Willow. "Have you missed it yet?"

She looks down at her phone, checking the time, and then back at me. "No. But I only have an hour."

I shake my head. "You'll never make it in time. Even if you got to the airport, getting through TSA and all that…"

She groans. "This sucks!"

"I'm very sorry," the driver says.

Willow smiles. "It's not your fault. These things happen."

She's not throwing a fit about this or being rude to the guy. Good girl. I'm proud of her.

He looks at me. "I have called her another Uber."

"I'd be happy to give her a ride."

The man looks apprehensive. I get it. He doesn't know me from Adam. Here I am, just some random guy who stopped and is trying to whisk away a young woman. For all he knows, I'm a creepy predator.

Of course, Little Willow is safe with me. Safer than she ever could be with anyone else. I wouldn't let anything happen to her.

Daddy always protects.

"The other driver will be here any moment," the guy says.

Willow steps closer. "It's okay. I know him."

The driver cocks his head to one side and arches an eyebrow, the skepticism heavy in his dark eyes.

"Seriously. He's family," Willow says. "Kind of."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Thank you. And good luck with your car."

"I am sorry it broke down. I hope you make your flight."

She waves goodbye and climbs in my truck.

And just like that, the woman I've been fantasizing about is right beside me as I zip up Highway 49.

Too bad her presence won't turn into more. But it can't. Ever.

Little Willow cannot be my baby girl, no matter how badly I want her to be.